Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
7 November 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/070) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Batman…
It is learned from the news coverage of 7 November 2024 that, Batman city council member Mehmet Erol and his family were subjected to physical violence by the police officers who raided his house on 4 November 2024, on the grounds of protests against the decision to dismiss co-mayors of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti district of Urfa and appoint trustees to replace them. It is learned from the news reports that Mehmet Erol’s son Medeni Erol, who has a 70% mental disability report, was also subjected to torture and ill-treatment by police dogs, Mehmet Erol and his son Medeni Erol were injured due to torture and Medeni Erol was detained.
Mehmet Erol stated the following to the press: ‘We woke up with the sound of an armored vehicle. Then they broke the door and entered inside. They came in with a dog. They took me into a room. They took my children to another room. They stepped on me and did not let me stand up. I told them that my son was mentally disabled, but they took me to another room and tortured my son. There were dog barks. When we came in, my son was covered in blood and bandaged (…) The paramedics who came here reacted and asked, ‘What have you done?’. Then they took him out of the house bandaged. They took him first to the hospital and then to the police station. He is being kept in the police station in bandages (…) The lawyers told me that my son had 11 stitches in his throat. We will file a criminal complaint”.
(11/071) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Batman…
On November 6, 2024, it is learned from the news coverage of November 6, 2024 that, during the protests in Batman against the decision to dismiss co-mayors of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti districts of Urfa and appoint trustees to replace them, a person named Yusuf Kaya, whose speech criticizing the trustee decision was circulated on social media, was detained and was subjected to torture and ill-treatment and was injured due to torture.
(11/072) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Urfa…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 6, 2024 that, at least 6 people (Adle Fidan, Yusuf Yeşiltepe, Kerem Bilgi, Aziz Çetintaş, Mizgin Çiftçi, Berivan Kocaoğlu) out of the 16 people who were detained in house raids in the Halfeti district of Urfa on November 5-6, 2024, on the grounds of trustee protests, were subjected to verbal and physical violence, threats and strip search by the police. It is also reported in the news that people who were subjected to torture and ill-treatment applied to the Lawyers’ Association for Freedom (ÖHD).
Adle Fidan, who was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, stated the following to the press: “While I was kept in a room after being brought to Halfeti District Police Headquarters, I was slapped by a male police officer who came from outside. I was also subjected to abusive swearing by some police officers who came into the room from time to time”.
Yusuf Yeşiltepe, one of the detainees, stated the following to the press: ‘They punched my neck and arm while I was handcuffed. After I was brought to the police station, 15-20 police officers inflicted violence on my face, neck and back. Due to this physical violence, my face was swollen and bruised and then my lips burst. A police officer said ‘Do you recognise me?’ and punched me”.
Kerem Bilgi, one of the detainees, stated the following to the press: “They insulted me and threatened me with death. Someone I did not recognize threatened me saying ‘I will hang you from the ceiling by your feet’”.
Aziz Çetintaş, one of the detainees, stated the following to the press: “During the detention in the morning, I was made to lie face down on the ground in front of my pregnant wife and 4 children and they put a gun to my head. The same police officers kicked me all over my body. I got wounds on my feet”.
(11/073) University Student Who Was Threatened in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of 6 November 2024 that, a student staying in a dormitory at Middle East Technical University (METU) and distributing BirGün newspaper’s ‘Genç Hayat’ edition, was prevented from entering the dormitory and was threatened by people reported to be members of Turkology Society.
(11/074) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of 6 November 2024 that, the family of Mehmet Başaran, a prisoner in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 1, who was hospitalized due to a heart attack, was not informed about his health condition. It is also reported in the news that Mehmet Başaran’s family could not contact the prison administration to get information. One of Mehmet Başaran’s family members stated the following to the press: “Mehmet told us that he was in a bad condition. He asked the prison authorities to inform the family. But we were not informed. He was kept in intensive care for 3 days. Today he was taken back to prison. He had recently undergone surgery on his eye. He has heart disease and other illnesses. We are worried about his health”.
It is learned from the news coverage of 6 November 2024 that, during room searches in Kocaeli Kandıra F Type Prison No 1, personal belongings of prisoners were scattered and materials such as cleaning supplies and blankets used to meet vital needs were seized, handicraft materials were confiscated and disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the prison administration against some people who had handicraft materials, 3 prisoners (Dilber Tanrıkulu, Gülşen Bahadır, Zozan Kutum) were sent to solitary rooms on the grounds of their aggravated life imprisonment sentences being finalized. It is also learned that the prison administration initiated disciplinary proceedings against 17 women prisoners including former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ and former Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel, who protested on October 23, 2024 against the decision to put them in solitary cells.
It is learned from the news coverage of 6 November 2024 that, Süleyman Göksel Yerdut, a prisoner in Elazığ F Type Prison No 1 was forced to be examined in handcuffs at the hospital he was referred to.
(11/075) Prevention of Right to Access Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of 6 November 2024 that, Süleyman Göksel Yerdut, a prisoner in Elazığ F Type Prison No 1, who rejected to be examined in handcuffs, was prescribed glasses and medication by the ophthalmologist on duty without an examination. It is also reported in the news that Süleyman Göksel Yerdut made an official complaint against the gendarmerie and the doctor.
(11/076) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of 7 November 2024 that, Dursun Ali Koyuncu, Artvin executive of Halkevleri, who is kept in Kars T Type Prison, started a hunger strike on 3 November 2024, demanding a fair trial. It is reported in the news that Dursun Ali Koyuncu will continue his hunger strike until an indictment is issued and a trial date is set.
(11/077) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan not Responded to…
It is learned that the appeal made on November 7, 2024, to the chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by lawyers in order to visit their clients PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison was not responded.
(11/078) Police Intervention in Protests against the Trustee Decisions in Batman and Diyarbakır…
On 6 November 2024, the police used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets against the people who were protesting in Emekli Toki, Hilal, Karşıyaka, Petrolkent, Bağlar, Korike, Pazaryeri, Bayındır, Cudi and Petrol neighborhoods of Batman in the evening hours of November 6, 2024, against the dismissal of co-mayors of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti district of Urfa and appointment of trustees in their place. No one was detained during the intervention.
On 6 November 2024, the police intervened with tear gas and water cannons against the group gathering for the same cause at the Basın Junction in Batman. It is not known whether anyone was detained during the intervention.
On November 6, 2024, a group gathered for the same cause at Rojava Park in the Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır and was blockaded by the police.
(11/079) People Detained for the Protests Against the Trustee Decisions in 8 Cities…
Directorate General of Security (EGM) announced on 6 November 2024 that 140 people were detained in 8 provinces (Mardin, Batman, Şanlıurfa, İstanbul, Van, Diyarbakır, Adana and Antalya) due to trustee protests and judicial proceedings were initiated against 75 social media accounts.
(11/080) Watch Demonstration Prevented by the Police in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of 7 November 2024 that, the teachers who held a watch demonstration in front of the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, demanding the abolition of interviews in teacher appointments, were removed from the area on 6 November 2024 by the police on the grounds of Governorate’s decision and that the demonstration ‘negatively affected the appearance of monuments’.
(11/081) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Kocaeli…
On 7 November 2024, the police and gendarmerie demolished the tents set up by animal rights defenders during the life-watch in front of the shelter, after animal rights defenders went to Kocaeli Gebze Balçık Nutrition and Shelter Centre on 11 October 2024 and found dead animals in garbage bags. 5 people who reacted to the demolition and whose names are unknown were detained. It is also reported in the news that animal rights defenders were not allowed to take their belongings from the tents.
Semra Çelikkaya, Chair of Kocaeli Nature and Animal Friends Association, stated the following to the press: “A woman lawyer friend of ours was beaten by the police. Again, a friend’s phone was damaged. 5 of our friends were detained”.
(11/082) Former Bar Association Chair Detained in Bitlis…
Lawyer Fuat Özgül, former chair of Bitlis Bar Association, who was detained on November 5, 2024, in a house raid in Bitlis on the allegations of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’, was released by the criminal peace judgeship on judicial control conditions on November 6, 2024.
(11/083) People Detained in Izmir and Muğla…
On 7 November 2024, at least 9 people including executives of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), HDP, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), AVESTA Language and Culture Research Association, former executives of Aegean Association for Assistance to Families of Prisoners and Convicts (EGE TUHAYDER) and members of Human Rights Association (IHD) were detained in house raids in Izmir and Muğla through an investigation conducted by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. It is reported that many printed and digital materials were seized during the raids. It is also stated in the news reports that there is a 24-hour restriction on lawyer visit to the investigation file.
The detainees whose names are known are DBP Aegean Region Representative Aslan Kızıl, HDP PM Member Aydın Çetinkaya, Avesta Language and Culture Research Association Co-Chair Ramazan Kaygısız, DEM Party Menemen District Co-Chair Ekrem Karakoç, EGE TUHAYDER former executives Selma Altan, Hediye Tekin and İsmet Akdemir.
(11/084) Children Detained in Şırnak…
2 children (Ş.İ. and 1 unidentified child) who were detained on 6 November 2024 in the Cizre district of Şırnak on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’, were released after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office on 7 November 2024.
(11/085) Party Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the retrial of the case against Selma Gürkan, Deputy Chair of Labor Party (EMEP), on the grounds of her statements in a press statement, was held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court on 6 November 2024. The court acquitted Selma Gürkan on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’.
In the lawsuit filed against Selma Gürkan, the court sentenced her to 10 months imprisonment on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and converted the sentence to a judicial fine of 6 thousand TL. The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation overturned the verdict.
(11/086) A Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
On 7 November 2024, the final hearing of the lawsuit filed against Ali Duran Topuz, editor-in-chief of Artı Gerçek news website, for reporting on a decree of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) on 20 June 2022, was held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5. The court acquitted the journalist on the charge of ‘targeting people involved in the fight against terrorism’.
(11/087) A Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against journalist Furkan Karabay, upon the complaint of the President’s former lawyer Mustafa Doğan İnal, for 3 social media posts, continued on 7 November 2024 at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 5. The prosecutor declared the final opinion on the case and demanded the acquittal of the journalist on the charges of ‘insult’ and ‘defamation’. The court adjourned the trial to 19 November 2024.
(11/088) Documentary Filmmaker on Trial in Ankara…
The final hearing of the retrial of the case against documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin, which was held on 7 November 2024, was held on 7 November 2024, following the reversal of the 10-month prison sentence and the deferment of the announcement of the verdict by the 6th Criminal Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Appeals, in the case filed at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 for following a protest in Ankara in 2015. The court acquitted Sibel Tekin on the charges of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and ‘violation of freedom of work and employment’.
(11/089) The Case Regarding the Armed Attack Against a Party Building…
The trial of the case against Muhammed Eren Sütçü, who committed an armed assault against the HDP district office in the Bahçelievler district of Istanbul on December 28, 2021, in which 2 people were wounded, on the charges of ‘threatening with a gun’, ‘insult’ and ‘attempted injury with a gun’ was held at Bakırköy Heavy Penal Court No 18 on November 6, 2024. The court rejected the demand for the arrest of Muhammed Eren Sütçü and adjourned the trial to 20 February 2025 with the decision to compel the witness Kürşat Arslan.
(11/090) Party Co-Chair and Executive Under Investigation…
The Ministry of Interior announced on 7 October 2024 that an investigation was initiated against DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan and Mardin Provincial Co-Chair Mehmet Mihdi Tunç for their speeches on 4 November 2024 against the decision to dismiss the co-mayors of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti districts of Urfa and appoint trustees to replace them.
(11/091) Municipality Councillors Prevented from Entering the Municipality…
It is learned from the news coverage of 6 November 2024 that, municipality council members elected from CHP were not allowed into Istanbul Esenyurt municipality building.
(11/092) Party Executives Prevented from Entering a Café in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of 6 November 2024 that, during the justice watch in front of the Esenyurt Municipality, against the arrest of the mayor Ahmet Özer and appointment of a trustee in his place on 31 October 2024, CHP deputy chairs Gamze Taşcıer and Pınar Uzun and Istanbul provincial chair Özgür Çelik were prevented by the police from entering a cafe in the area and the police intervened with shields against CHP executives and members. Some members stated that they were subjected to physical violence by the police inside the municipality building. It is reported that the police allowed the executives to pass after a while.
(11/093) Issue of a Newspaper Ordered to be Seized…
It is learned from the news coverage of 6 November 2024 that, Istanbul Büyükçekmece Criminal Peace Judgeship issued a ban on the issue of Yeni Yaşam newspaper dated 4 November 2024, on the grounds of a photograph of Abdullah Öcalan.
[1]The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.
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[5] Daily Human Rights Reports are prepared on the information gathered by the Documentation Center from its own network and the following dailies and internet portals: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.